Shocking revelation: “Individuals involved in match-fixing and referee bribery cases are operating under the name of Koo Dan (CEO)...” The Association was unaware

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

It is a shocking revelation. It emerged during a National Assembly inspection that an individual who had previously received a guilty verdict for involvement in professional soccer match-fixing and referee bribery continues to hold a title within the soccer community and wields significant influence over matters such as referee assignments.

During the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee inspection on the 21st, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Cho Gye-won pressed the Korea Football Association (KFA) with questions regarding suspicions that a match-fixing participant is intervening in the refereeing system, as well as indications that a former senior official received bribes.

During his questioning, Jo (Rep.) directly mentioned Mr. Choi, who had been sentenced to 10 months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence for participating in professional soccer match-fixing 10 years ago. Jo (Rep.) stated, “Mr. Choi, who has already undergone judicial proceedings, still wields enormous influence over the refereeing system,” and released an audio recording containing details about referee assignments and requests to the inspection floor.

Subsequently, Jo (Rep.) asked, “Do you know that this person is currently listed as the representative of Geochang FC and openly active?” In response, Lee Yong-su, acting president of the Football Association, who appeared as a witness, answered, “We were unaware of that aspect. While official association registration procedures are designed to prevent ineligible individuals from registering, it appears an individual has been using his name.”

Jo (Rep.) raised his voice, stating, “This means individuals with histories of referee bribery and match-fixing are still intervening in referee assignments and promotion/relegation evaluations,” and added, “At this level, the matter goes beyond a simple failure of association systems and requires a full-scale investigation by judicial institutional investors.” Acting President Lee Yong-su replied, “If you provide us with the transcript, we will conduct a thorough investigation and immediately file complaints with the police and the Sports Ethics Center.”

Suspicions of corruption involving the head of the refereeing system also surfaced. Jo (Rep.) exposed an audio recording of former Football Association Shim Pan-wi (Director) Moon Jin-hee, who is suspected of demanding money from referees and evaluators while in office. The released file clearly captured his voice saying, “Send me some pocket money; I’ll send you a bank account number.” Jo (Rep.) condemned it as a “serious crime that completely undermines the entire referee system, which is directly linked to assignment frequency and promotion/relegation evaluations.”

Criticism also continued over Moon Jeon (Chairman)’s unauthorized absence. In his procedural remarks prior to questioning, Jo (Rep.) stated, “Following the absences of former General Manager for Technical Affairs Lee Im-saeng and Korea Professional Football League Chairman Kwon Oh-gap, today even Moon Jin-hee, Jeon (Chairman), has disappeared after changing his phone number without submitting a single letter explaining the reason,” and demanded, “Please take the strongest possible legal action against this behavior of using the National Assembly inspection floor as a place of refuge.” Moon Che-wi (Director) Jeon Jae-soo stated, “We will respond strictly by fully utilizing the authority of the National Assembly.”

In addition, Jo (Rep.) pointed out that referee administration has suffered comprehensive dysfunction since the Football Association’s unification of referees in 2020. Citing incidents such as the referee’s sexually harassing remarks and accumulated warning controversy toward player Ji So-yeon last August, and the failure to produce a World Cup main referee for four consecutive tournaments, he urged a full-scale audit and referral for investigation at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism level. Furthermore, regarding the professional football league’s youth regulations, which doubled penalty fees imposed on players while ignoring Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recommendations, he described it as “behavior that shackles players and their families” and demanded prompt regulatory improvement.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original